Customer Reviews

Vol. 1-Complete Lazz Lab Studio Sessions

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One disc 69 minutes approximately. The sound is crisp and clean. The instruments are all clearly defined,even the bass,which is buried somewhat,but is easily heard. The booklet has the original liner notes from the vinyl releases. Tracks on this first volume are taken from the albums "Jazz Lab","Modern Jazz Perspective",and "Jazz Omnibus". The players on tracks 1-8 are,besides Byrd on trumpet and Gryce on alto sax-Benny Powell-trombone,Julius Watkins-french horn,Don Butterfield-tuba,Sahib Shihab-baritone sax,Tommy Flanagan-piano,Wade Legge-piano on tracks 6-8,Wendell Marshall-bass,and Art Taylor-drums. Tracks 9-13,again with Byrd and Gryce,are Jimmy Cleveland-trombone,Watkins-french horn,Shihab-baritone sax,Butterfield-tuba,Wynton Kelly-piano,Marshall-bass,and Taylor-drums.

These tracks were recorded in 1957,during a time when jazz still had melodies that "swung",and the players were steeped in the jazz tradition of well written,well arranged,and well played music. For those familiar with THE JAZZTET with Art Farmer,Benny Golson and Curtis Fuller,among others-musically speaking,this is in the same ballpark. Gryce wrote the majority of the tracks,and they show what a fine writer/arranger he was. The rest of the tracks are written by well known jazz musicians (Silver,Golson,etc.) and one tune by Arlen-Harburg,the well known composers.

A number of tracks are fairly long,which gives the individual musicians a chance to shine on their respective instruments. This is gently swinging music,with well arranged solos from the various players,especially Byrd and Gryce. There's no grandstanding,no stepping on the other members of the band-this is well rehearsed be-bop (which seems almost to be an oxymoron),in the style of the day. This music could stand against virtually any other jazz played by groups from this time period,and end up near the top. It's a shame this music (and group) isn't more well known,especially by listeners who have an affinity for this era of jazz. From faster tracks ("Nica's Tempo" for example) to slower ballads ("I Remember Clifford"),this is some very fine,unassuming jazz that more listeners should hear. Both Byrd and Gryce are in top form here,with the other members of the band(s) equally fine. Listeners looking for some good jazz from this time period could do themselves a favor by hearing this group. Fine writing,fine arranging,and well played jazz like this will make you wonder,why isn't this group talked about in the same breadth as THE JAZZTET,or some of Art Blakey's bands. One listen and you,too,will agree.

This is excellent playing, composition, arranging and group sound. Jazz at its best. If you don't know "The Jazz Lab", you're in for a treat, and Vol I, II or III are all great places to start.

What I like on Volume I is the combination of the keen and the gritty; it's amazing to me how the thoughtfulness of the intro to "Steppin' Out" and the groove of "Blue Concept" can be coming from the same source. Check out the mystery of "An Evening in Casablanca" and the innocent jubilance of "Sans Souci" (means "without a care" in French). Gryce favorites "Social Call" and "Nica's Tempo" are featured in excellent, definitive arrangements here, as well as Benny Golson's classic "Stablemates."

These are the masters of jazz, captured at their finest moments as players and composers.